This email came in asking for some words of wisdom. Not only did I graciously give them, but I will pass them along to you as well.
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I’m really interested in orthopedic surgery. I currently have four ortho interviews coming up soon. Do you have any advice for this?
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First of all, if you have a job interview, great! You’re halfway there. Your resume did its job and landed you an interview.
Now for the interview.
The single most important thing is to be calm. If it’s your first job interview, you’re going to be nervous. Like, really nervous. The more you do, the easier it gets.
Looking at your situation, I would do two things to help right off the bat:
- Realize that you have FOUR different interviews! Holy Smokes, that’s amazing! Do you know what that means? Margin. You won’t be forced to live on the streets as a beggar if one of them doesn’t go well. That’s like getting your first college acceptance letter. You know you’re going somewhere. The pressure can come off a little. You WILL find something.
- Schedule your first-choice interview as teh last of the four (or at least not the first). If you haven’t done any interviews in a while, you’ll do better with a little practice. If you already have them scheduled, no worries. Practice with a friend. For real, I’m 100% serious. Think about it – why wouldn’t you? Why would you go into the most important meeting of your life (am I exaggerating?) without any practice?
I only interviewed at two places out of PA school. Both began with the office manager. These were bigger practices with about 20 docs and 15 PAs. These people had been interviewing someone for a job 3 or 4 times a week for the past 10 years. I was totally outmatched in that environment. I held my own, but I should have practiced.
Rehearsing a situation is always a strong idea. My six-year-old decided he was going to take the pumpkin seeds we had scooped out of his jack-o-lantern and sell them. He was going to roast them (or at least mom was) and then make bags and take them to the neighbors.
Once the bags were done and before he left the front porch, what did we do? We made him rehearse his opening sentence and then knock on our door and try and sell one to mom.
No one was going to turn down a cute six-year-old selling pumpkin seeds, but it was important to get him over being nervous. It’s surprising how hard it can be to get the words out under even a little pressure.
Do a quick search for interview questions, pick out a bunch and hand them to a friend, then take 30 minutes to practice.
The last thing I’m gonna mention on this topic for today is WEAR A SUIT!!!!
You are a professional. You were a suit for an interview, period. If you walk in in anything less, don’t expect to get the job, no matter how well the interview goes.
I feel like I shouldn’t have to say this, but when I talk to people who do hiring, I’m amazed at how many people come in underdressed. It would be difficult to be overdressed.
Just the tip of the iceburg baby.
The November issue is all about the job process. Sign up today and then in November, you’ll have one more thing to be thankful for.
Physician Assistant Exam Scholars
Brian Wallace